Duplicator for recording medium and method for duplicating recording medium

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a duplicator for recording medium and a method for duplicating recording medium, wherein a fast duplicating effect is achieved by FIFO buffers and direct memory access controllers (DMACs).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a duplicator for recordingmedium and a method for duplicating recording medium, more particularlyto a duplicator for recording medium and a method for duplicatingrecording medium, wherein a fast duplicating effect is achieved by FIFObuffers and direct memory access controllers (DMACs).

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0002] Conventionally, in a duplicator for recording medium, for exampleas described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,141, a control signal generator isused to decide on/off of a data bus switch and a control signal switchto control the flow of source data. That is to say, when the controlsignal generator determines that a duplication of data can be proceeded,a signal is sent to turn on the data bus switch and the control signalswitch, and data output from a source data terminal (hardware) aretransmitted to each duplicator to complete a duplicating procedure.

[0003] However, in the prior art mentioned above, the duplication ofsecond data starts after the duplication of first data is completed. Theduplication of third data starts after the duplication of second data iscompleted, and so on. Therefore, there is a propagation delay induplicating data. When large volume of data are to be duplicated, it istime-consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In view of the problems mentioned above, the present inventionutilizes FIFO buffers and DMACs to overcome the problem oftime-consuming in duplicating data.

[0005] When a FIFO buffer is used to store data, if the FIFO buffer isnot empty, the first stored data would be output.

[0006] A DMAC can directly access the data without the control of aprocessor. The DMAC combined with FIFO buffer can be used to avoidpropagation delay in duplicating data.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a duplicatorfor recording medium, comprising:

[0008] a source recording medium;

[0009] a source DMAC;

[0010] a source FIFO buffer;

[0011] a multiplexer;

[0012] a plurality of target FIFO buffers;

[0013] a plurality of target DMACs; and

[0014] a plurality of target recording mediums,

[0015] wherein the data of the source recording medium are transmittedto the source FIFO buffer through the source DMAC; the data of thesource FIFO buffer are transmitted to a plurality of target FIFO buffersthrough the multiplexer; and the data of the target FIFO buffer aretransmitted to the target recording medium through the target DMAC.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide aduplicator for recording medium, comprising:

[0017] a data source;

[0018] a multiplexer;

[0019] a plurality of target FIFO buffers;

[0020] a plurality of target DMACs; and

[0021] a plurality of target recording mediums,

[0022] wherein the data of the data source are transmitted to aplurality of target FIFO buffers through the multiplexer; and the dataof the target FIFO buffer are transmitted to the target recording mediumthrough the target DMAC.

[0023] Still another object of the present invention is to provide aduplicator for recording medium, comprising:

[0024] a source recording medium;

[0025] a source DMAC;

[0026] a source FIFO buffer;

[0027] a multiplexer;

[0028] a plurality of comparators;

[0029] a plurality of target FIFO buffers;

[0030] a plurality of target DMACs; and

[0031] a plurality of target recording mediums,

[0032] wherein the data of the source recording medium are transmittedto the source FIFO buffer through the source DMAC; the data of thetarget recording medium are transmitted to the target FIFO bufferthrough the target DMAC; and the data of the source FIFO buffer aretransmitted to the comparators through the multiplexer and compared withthe data of the target FIFO buffer by the comparators.

[0033] Another object of the present invention is to provide aduplicator for recording medium, comprising:

[0034] a data source;

[0035] a multiplexer;

[0036] a plurality of comparators;

[0037] a plurality of target FIFO buffers;

[0038] a plurality of target DMACs; and

[0039] a plurality of target recording mediums,

[0040] wherein the data of the target recording medium are transmittedto the target FIFO buffer through the target DMAC; and the data of thedata source are transmitted to the comparators through the multiplexerand compared with the data of the target FIFO buffer by the comparators.

[0041] Another object of the present invention is to provide a methodfor duplicating recording medium, comprising the steps of:

[0042] detecting a source recording medium and a plurality of targetrecording mediums;

[0043] configuring a source DMAC for the source recording medium and aplurality of target DMACs for the target recording mediums;

[0044] transmitting the data of the source recording medium to a sourceFIFO buffer through the source DMAC;

[0045] transmitting the data of the source FIFO buffer to a plurality oftarget FIFO buffers through a multiplexer; and

[0046] transmitting the data of a plurality of target FIFO buffers to aplurality of target recording mediums through a plurality of targetDMACs.

[0047] Another object of the present invention is to provide a methodfor comparing recording medium, comprising the steps of:

[0048] detecting a source recording medium and a plurality of targetrecording mediums;

[0049] configuring a source DMAC for the source recording medium and aplurality of target DMACs for the target recording mediums;

[0050] transmitting the data of the source recording medium to a sourceFIFO buffer through the source DMAC;

[0051] transmitting the data of a plurality of target recording mediumsto a plurality of target FIFO buffers through a plurality of targetDMACs;

[0052] transmitting the data of the source FIFO buffer to a plurality ofcomparators through a multiplexer; and

[0053] comparing the data of the source FIFO buffer with the data of thetarget FIFO buffer by a plurality of comparators.

[0054] In the present invention, the recording medium can be selectedfrom a hard disc, an optical disc, a rewritable optical disc, a floppydisc or a memory.

[0055] In the present invention, a transferring interface is providedbetween the source recording medium and the source DMAC.

[0056] In the present invention, the transferring interface can beselected from an ATA, serial ATA or SCSI control interface.

[0057] The other objects, merits and novel features of the presentinvention are obvious by the following detailed description togetherwith accompany drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the duplicator according to the firstembodiment of the present invention.

[0059]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the duplicator according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention.

[0060]FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the method for duplicatingrecording medium according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0061]FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the method for comparing recordingmedium according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0062] Now referring to FIG. 1, the duplicator for recording mediumaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises: asource recording medium 13; a source DMAC 12; a source FIFO buffer 11; amultiplexer 14; a plurality of target FIFO buffers 101 ₁, 101 ₂, . . .and 101 _(n); a plurality of target DMACs 102 ₁, 102 ₂, . . . and 102_(n); and a plurality of target recording mediums 103 ₁, 103 ₂, . . .and 103 _(n). When a source recording medium 13 is detected, a sourceDMAC 12 is configured. The data of the source recording medium 13 aretransmitted to the source FIFO buffer 11 through the source DMAC 12.When the data of the source FIFO buffer 11 are not empty, the data ofthe source FIFO buffer 11 are transmitted to a plurality of target FIFObuffers (101 ₁, 101 ₂, . . . and 101 _(n)) through a multiplexer 14.Thereafter, the data of target FIFO buffers (101 ₁, 101 ₂, . . . and 101_(n)) are transmitted and duplicated to the target recording medium (103₁, 103 ₂, . . . and 103 _(n)) through the target DMACs (102 ₁, 102 ₂, .. . and 102 _(n)).

[0063] Alternatively, when the data to be duplicated are from anexternal data source 16, the data of the data source 16 are transmittedto a plurality of target FIFO buffers (101 ₁, 101 ₂, . . . and 101 _(n))through the multiplexer 14. Thereafter, the data of target FIFO buffers(101 ₁, 101 ₂, . . . and 101 _(n)) are transmitted and duplicated to thetarget recording medium (103 ₁, 103 ₂, . . . and 103 _(n)) through thetarget DMACs (102 ₁, 102 ₂, . . . and 102 _(n)).

[0064] A transferring interface can be provided between the sourcerecording medium 13 and the source DMAC 12 for connection. Thetransferring interface could be an ATA, serial ATA or SCSI controlinterface, depending on what the source recording medium 13 is.

[0065] Now referring to FIG. 2, the duplicator for recording mediumaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention comprises:

[0066] a source recording medium 13; a source DMAC 12; a source FIFObuffer 11; a multiplexer 14; a plurality of comparators 105 ₁, 105 ₂, .. . and 105 _(n); a plurality of target FIFO buffers 101 ₁, 101 ₂, . . .and 101 _(n); a plurality of target DMACs 102 ₁, 102 ₂, . . . and 102_(n); and a plurality of target recording mediums 103 ₁, 103 ₂, . . .and 103 _(n). When a source recording medium 13 is detected, a sourceDMAC 12 is configured. The data of the source recording medium 13 aretransmitted to the source FIFO buffer 11 through the source DMAC 12.When the data of the source FIFO buffer 11 are not empty, the data ofthe source FIFO buffer 11 are transmitted to a plurality of comparators(105 ₁, 105 ₂, . . . and 105 _(n)) through a multiplexer 14. The data ofthe target recording medium (103 ₁, 103 ₂, . . . and 103 _(n)) aretransmitted to the target FIFO buffers (101 ₁, 101 ₂, . . . and 101_(n)) through the target DMACs (102 ₁, 102 ₂, . . . and 102 _(n)).Thereafter, the data of source FIFO 11 are compared with the data oftarget FIFO buffers (101 ₁, 101 ₂, . . . and 101 _(n)) by comparators(105 ₁, 105 ₂, . . . and 105 _(n)), respectively.

[0067] Alternatively, when the data to be compared are from an externaldata source 16, the data of the data source 16 are transmitted to aplurality of comparators (105 ₁, 105 ₂, . . . and 105 _(n)) through themultiplexer 14. The data of the target recording medium (103 ₁, 103 ₂, .. . and 103 _(n)) are transmitted to the target FIFO buffers (101 ₁, 101₂, . . . and 101 _(n)) through the target DMACs (102 ₁, 102 ₂, . . . and102 _(n)). Thereafter, the data of the data source 16 are compared withthe data of target FIFO buffers (101 ₁, 101 ₂, . . . and 101 _(n)) bycomparators (105 ₁, 105 ₂, . . . and 105 _(n)), respectively.

[0068] A transferring interface can be provided between the sourcerecording medium 13 and the source DMAC 12 for connection. Thetransferring interface could be an ATA, serial ATA or SCSI controlinterface, depending on what the source recording medium 13 is.

[0069]FIG. 3 shows the flow chart of method for duplicating recordingmedium according to the third embodiment of the present invention.First, at Step 11, the type of the recording medium is detected.Consequently, at Step 12, DMAC is configured according to the type ofthe recording medium. Step 13 determines whether the source FIFO isfull. If the determining result of Step 13 is No, the process proceedsto Step 14. At Step 14, the data of the source recording medium aretransmitted to the source FIFO. If the determining result of Step 13 isYes, the process proceeds to Step 15. Step 15 determines whether thesource FIFO is not empty and all target FIFOs are not full. If thedetermining result of Step 15 is Yes, the process proceeds to Step 16.At Step 16, the data of source FIFO are transmitted to the target FIFO.If the determining result of Step 15 is No, i.e. the source FIFO isempty or the target FIFO is full, the process proceed to Step 17. Step17 determines whether the target FIFO is empty. If the determiningresult of Step 17 is No, the process proceeds to Step 18. At Step 18,the data of target FIFO are transmitted to target recording medium. Ifthe determining result of Step 17 is Yes, the process proceeds to Step19. Step 19 determines whether all requested data of source recordingmedium are transmitted to target recording medium. If the determiningresult of Step 19 is Yes, the process goes to end. If the determiningresult of Step 19 is No, the process proceeds to Step 13.

[0070]FIG. 4 shows the flow chart of method for comparing recordingmedium according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] First, at Step 21, the type of the recording medium is detected.Consequently, at Step 22, DMAC is configured according to the type ofthe recording medium. Step 23 determines whether the source FIFO isfull. If the determining result of Step 23 is No, the process proceedsto Step 24. At Step 24, the data of the source recording medium aretransmitted to the source FIFO. If the determining result of Step 23 isYes, the process proceeds to Step 25. Step 25 determines whether thetarget FIFO is full. If the determining result of Step 25 is No, theprocess proceeds to Step 26. At Step 26, the data of the targetrecording medium are transmitted to the target FIFO. If the determiningresult of Step 25 is Yes, the process proceeds to Step 27. Step 27determines whether all the source FIFO and the target FIFOs are notempty. If the determining result of Step 27 is Yes, the process proceedsto Step 28. Step 28 compares the data of the source FIFO with the dataof the target FIFO by comparators. If the determining result of Step 27is No, the process proceeds to Step 29. Step 29 determines whether allrequested data of source recording medium are compared with all data oftarget recording medium. If the determining result of Step 29 is Yes,the process goes to end. If the determining result of Step 29 is No, theprocess proceeds to Step 23.

[0072] While several embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed using specific terms, such description is for illustrativepurposes only, and it should be understood that changes and variationsmay be made without departing from the spirit of scope of the followingclaims.

1. A duplicator for recording medium, comprising: a source recordingmedium; a source DMAC; a source FIFO buffer; a multiplexer; a pluralityof target FIFO buffers; a plurality of target DMACs; and a plurality oftarget recording mediums, wherein the data of said source recordingmedium are transmitted to said source FIFO buffer through said sourceDMAC; the data of said source FIFO buffer are transmitted to a pluralityof said target FIFO buffers through said multiplexer; and the data ofsaid target FIFO buffer are transmitted to said target recording mediumthrough said target DMAC.
 2. (Cancelled)
 3. The duplicator for recordingmedium as defined in claim 1, further comprising a plurality ofcomparators, wherein the data of said source recording medium aretransmitted to said source FIFO buffer through said source DMAC; thedata of said target recording medium are transmitted to said target FIFObuffer through said target DMAC; and the data of said source FIFO bufferare transmitted to said comparators through said multiplexer andcompared with the data of target FIFO buffer by said comparators. 4.(Cancelled)
 5. The duplicator for recording medium as defined in claim1, wherein said recording medium is a hard disc.
 6. The duplicator forrecording medium as defined in claim 1, wherein said recording medium isan optical disc.
 7. The duplicator for recording medium as defined inclaim 1, wherein said recording medium is a rewritable optical disc. 8.The duplicator for recording medium as defined in claim 1, wherein saidrecording medium is a floppy disc.
 9. The duplicator for recordingmedium as defined in claim 1, wherein said recording medium is a memory.10. The duplicator for recording medium as defined in claim 1 or 3,further comprising a transferring interface provided between said sourcerecording medium and said source DMAC.
 11. The duplicator for recordingmedium as defined in claim 10, wherein said transferring interface is anATA, serial ATA or SCSI control interface.
 12. (Cancelled) 13.(Cancelled)